More Than One Night (25 page)

"Oh, save the dramatics. This isn't about pushing him to be better at something, this is about finding a way to show him love, and keep loving him until he believes he deserves it."

"I did try. I swear."

Evelyn hugged her. "I know, kiddo, but you can't give up so easily. Love is hard. Trust me."

Today, ironically, the childhood nickname made her feel loved rather than annoyed. "I'm not arguing, I promise. I just really am at a loss. He's refused my love and my help, taken Annie, and left."

Evelyn's eyebrow rose, "Are you doubting your big sister's ability to help you find a creative solution to this problem?"

Evelyn's words peaked her attention and brought a small smile to her face. "Your name on the door of a major law firm in downtown Chicago suggests there is no room for doubt."

Evelyn pulled herself to her full five-feet-eight inches and winked. "Then it's time to completely break out of your comfort zone, and do something different if you want different results." Her posture slouched a fraction. "Trust me—I know a thing or two about this."

Melodie remembered Jason mentioning his dad slept on the couch many nights. Maybe Ev's fairy tale life wasn't the happily ever after she portrayed. Soon, very soon, she'd ask her about the status of her marriage. First, she wanted her to continue this line of thought. "Well, you've picked the perfect time to suggest this as I've been slowly breaking out of that zone for weeks now."

"Good! Then here's what I suggest you do. Pull yourself together, book a plane ticket, knock on his front door, and park yourself in his living room until he admits he needs you and can't live without you." Evelyn smiled. "I'm pretty sure the law says if you stay long enough, you'll become his common-law wife."

"Let's say I want to do that. Other than the state, I have no idea where he lives." She wasn't even sure a cell number would help at this point. She could call, but this conversation needed to take place in person.

Evelyn chewed on her bottom lip, signifying deep thought. Mel grinned, remembering her picking up the habit at a very young age. Mother would always fuss reminding her of the "tell" being a show of weakness. Mel thought it made her appear more human and something less than a goddess.

Finally, Evelyn spoke. "I know a guy, an investigator. He owes me a favor. You make arrangements at work, and book your flight for Friday. I'll have an address for you by then."

Miracles never ceased. This particular miracle she had to thank Daniel for, as he served as the catalyst for the turnaround in the relationship with her sister.
"Are you doing this because Daniel blackmailed you into being nice to me?"

Her big sister grinned. "A few points of order, little sis. First, Daniel isn't here, so there's no threat of blackmail looming over my head. Second, while I might not approve of his methods, he helped me see you in a different way—the way I should've viewed you all along. He stood up to me without flinching. There aren't too many people around with the guts to take me head on. I respect him."

"He's kinda great, isn't he?"
No, he's wonderful.
She was going to find him and make him see how amazing he truly was.

Daniel had handled her family flawlessly.

"Let's not get carried away. He's still a man, which means he possesses serious flaws. But, as far as his gender is concerned, he comes across as better than average."

Thinking of their last night together, Melodie's eyes closed. "Much, much better than average."

"On that note, I'm going to leave you to start the repairs on your red, puffy eyes. Judging by their current state, Friday may be cutting it close to be back to normal."

Melodie raised her hands in surrender. "I know. Tea bags and cold compresses followed by plenty of rest." And research on survivor guilt.

She felt the comforting embrace of her sister once more and a kiss on her forehead.

"You can do this, Mel. I believe in you"

What an emotional day. She'd finally experienced the pleasure of a closer relationship with her sister, and she'd lost Daniel. For the moment anyway… Her track record in the game of love currently stood at no wins and entirely too many losses. With a deep breath in and another out, hope and courage filled her heart. Time for a change.

Friday

Melodie swallowed hard as she stood at the beginning of the small brick path leading to Daniel's front door. Five days—a lifetime—transpired since Daniel took Annie and left. No texts. No phone calls. No showing up at her door. This time she would be the one to take the initiative to set things straight. She liked that.

Evelyn, true to her word, called in a favor and provided his address. The modest house occupied a small plot of neatly manicured lawn. The one-story, grey home boasted a small porch with new wooden pillars holding the roof in place, a recent repair perhaps? Three concrete steps at the end of the small walkway would put her squarely in front of the white door leading to her fate. Well, she'd come this far.

A red Ford mustang—convertible, of course—adorned the driveway. The lump in her throat expanded as memories of staying out all night with Daniel flashed in her mind. In direct contrast to the muscle car, a pink bicycle with white and pink tassels decorating the handlebar leaned against the garage. She smiled. Daniel certainly operated as a man of contrasts.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Time to see which of those two personalities would answer the door. Each step reminded her of drudging through a mud pit, laborious and slow.
No walking on sunshine today.
She opened the screen door, knocked, and waited.

Nothing.

She checked her watch, a little after two in the afternoon. He could be at work, but the car was in the driveway. She knocked again, a little more forcefully. Still nothing.

You can do this.
Evelyn's words strengthened her resolve. She had nowhere to be until Monday morning. She'd wait. Longer than Monday, if necessary. This was it. He was her happily ever after.

Thirty minutes later a loud rumbling sounded at the end of the block. She stood, prepared to run, depending on the source of the noise. Then she saw him. Her bad-boy-turned-knight-in-shining-armor clad in jeans and a leather jacket straddling a cherry red, trimmed in black motorcycle. Talk about sex on wheels. Her body tingled in remembrance of his pressed against hers, sending her so high she had to look down to see heaven.

He pulled into the drive, removed his helmet, and slid off the bike with the grace of a panther. His fingers combed through the closely cropped hair—he'd cut it since he left. The sight of him eased the ache building in her heart from the moment he said good-bye. "Hey." Not eloquent but a start.

Her voice drew his attention away from the bike. "What kind of motorcycle is that?"

His face registered a mix of wariness and surprise. "Ducati. Best damn bike there is."

"I like it. Suits you perfectly."

He moved toward the front door, keys in hand. "I didn't expect to see you again."

She followed him onto the porch. "It seems Adventure Melodie decided to stick around. I've never been to Mississippi before. So I thought, what the hell. It's beautiful here, by the way. The colors are so vibrant. Pretty hot though."

He opened the door and stepped inside. His body blocked her ability to follow him in. Not wanting him to shut her out both physically and emotionally, she decided to appeal to the Southern gentleman. "So hot, in fact, that I've worked up quite a thirst sitting out here waiting for you to come home." She lowered her lashes and her voice. "Won't you at least invite me in for a glass of sweet tea or something?"

Daniel shook his head and grinned. "I half expected you to pull out a fan and try to mimic the accent with your routine. You really need to work on your Southern belle act."

A small crack in his resistance. Offering him a bright smile, she shrugged. "Hey I really am thirsty. Dehydration affects my acting skills."

The door opened the rest of the way, and he stepped aside.
One step closer.
"I'm out of sweet tea, but there's a fresh pitcher of lemonade in the fridge. Will that work?"

"Perfect, thank you."

A sweet shiver ran through her nerves the moment his fingers touched hers as he delivered the drink. A few sips of the tart liquid helped cool and calm her. "How's Annie?"

"She'll be home from school soon. She's adjusting well, mothering me quite a bit for an eight year old."

Thoughts of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed princess forced Melodie to wipe an errant tear from her cheek. "Sorry, I…I've missed her." She held his gaze with hers, willing him to see the love. "I've missed you."

He reclined on the cushions of the couch, a frown etched on his face. "She misses you too, along with the bedtime stories and Jason. She doesn't understand how milady can live without her knight." The blue eyes fixed a penetrating stare in her direction. "I don't know what to tell her."

Moment of truth. "I would tell her that while milady probably could, it wouldn't be what anyone would classify as living." Melodie reached out to touch his arm. "I don't want to go through the motions anymore. I want to be free to live life, and I want you to be as well. To prove it, I found you, flew all the way here, and waited thirty minutes in the hot, Mississippi sun for you. If that doesn't say I can't live without you, I don't know what does."

Her breath held as the entire world hung in the balance, well
her
entire world, as she waited for his response. He exhaled slowly and smiled. "All those books you read, and you quote something
I
said?"

The tension released its iron grip on her body, her breath escaping through laughter. "Well, you said something memorable that fit the occasion, so why not?"

He took her hand, holding it in between his. "I'm sorry I left the way I did. At the time, I really thought it was the best thing for you."

The air became trapped in her lungs again. "And now?"

He lifted her hand and kissed it gently. "And now, I've had time to let all the words you said to me along with a lot of lectures from Annie show me the error of my ways."

She could almost picture Annie's hands propped on her little hips explaining to her daddy why she knew and understood things he didn't. She was eight, after all. "What did she say?"

"The princess reminded me of how happy she—we—had been when we were with you. Every day she told me how much she loved me, and every day I've replayed you telling me you loved me. Every night, when I check on Annie, I keep thinking of those nights I found the two of you asleep on your bed. You both are so beautiful, and the angelic look on your faces as you slept helped me realize that while I might not be at a place where I believe I deserve you…"

"Daniel…"

"Hear me out, please. I might not believe I deserve you, but I know you both deserve the man you believe and want me to be. On my way home from work today, I stopped by my old shrink's office and made an appointment."

The tears wouldn't be held back any longer. As they streamed down her face, she pulled him into an embrace. She kissed his cheek and neck, before whispering in his ear. "I'm so happy for you. I know that wasn't easy. I love you so much."

 He pulled out of her embrace, just enough so she could see his face. "I'm sorry that I didn't say this to you sooner. I love you, Melodie Alexander. Not just fairy tale love, but honest to goodness, real life, impossible to truly live without love. I've never met anyone like you, and, for the first time in my life, I've found true love."

She melted in his embrace the moment his mouth covered hers. The passionate heat from the kiss seared her very soul and branded her forever his. White-hot need sliced through her body as the tip of his tongue slid across her parted lips, deepening the connection.
So very good!

Needing air, she reluctantly dragged her mouth from his. "God, I've missed you." To prove her point, she kissed him again between her words. "When I…thought I'd…never see you…again."

Finally, his hands cupped her cheek and held her motionless for a moment. "How did you find me?"

 "Evelyn."

His eyes widened in surprise. "Big sister whose shadow you've lived in your whole life, Evelyn?"

She smiled. "No, big sister who my brave knight took head on and convinced her with his Southern charm and skill her little sister was a woman who deserved her respect. You earned her respect. Something I've tried my whole life to do and you managed it in one evening and on your first try."

The arrogant grin returned. "She thinks I'm hot shit, doesn't she?"

Melodie chuckled, "More like you rank better than average for your gender. That's the best compliment you'll get from her."

He moved closer. "Good thing I'm so into her little sister, or I might decide to prove to her I'm a helluva lot better than average."

 "Oh, I already told her you were much, much better than average." She turned her head enough to kiss his slightly calloused palms. "Tell me I can stay, at least until we can figure this out."

Before he could say anything further, the door swung open. "Daddy, I'm home!"

Daniel tried to shift his focus from Melodie's question to his daughter. Holy shit, she really wants to stay. She's not just saying the words. She's backing it up with action. She deserved the perfect answer, but first he needed to tend to Annie. "Welcome home, princess. How was school?"

"School was…Miss Melodie?" The backpack dropped unceremoniously to the floor as her eyes shifted between the two adults.

"Mel came for a visit—"

"I came to say how sorry I was I didn't get to say good-bye and see if you would forgive me."

"I know." Annie proclaimed even though her face indicated confusion.

Melodie moved to kneel in front of Annie. "I've missed you and your daddy a lot. So much, in fact, I had to come see you both."

She nodded. "I know."